This randomized phase II study investigated first-line chemotherapy plus cetuximab
administered every second week in KRAS wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer.
Patients received FOLFOX4 plus either standard weekly cetuximab (arm 1) or cetuximab
(500 mg/m(2)) every second week (arm 2), until disease progression or unacceptable
toxicity. Primary end point was the objective response rate (ORR). Progression-free
survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), disease control rate (DCR) and safety were
also investigated. The study was not powered to establish non-inferiority, but aimed
at the estimation of treatment differences.
Of 152 randomized eligible patients, 75 were treated in arm 1 and 77 in arm 2; ORRs
[53% versus 62%, odds ratio 1.40, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.74-2.66], PFS [median
9.5 versus 9.2 months, hazard ratio (HR) 0.92, 95% CI 0.63-1.34], OS (median 25.8
versus 23.0 months, HR 0.86, 95% CI 0.56-1.30) and DCR (87%) were comparable. HRs
adjusted for baseline factors were 1.01 and 0.99 for PFS and OS, respectively. Frequencies
of grade 3/4 adverse events in arms 1 versus 2 were similar: most common were neutropenia
(28% versus 34%) and rash (15% versus 17%).
Activity and safety of FOLFOX4 plus either cetuximab administered weekly or every
second week were similar.